Wheel suspension for motor vehicles



37- I M. CHRI STMAN I 2,097,445 I WHEEL SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES" Filed March 11, 935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l -Il m is thus not Patented Nov. 2,1931

7 UNITED STATESPATIENT-OFFICE i p 2.001.445 wuss-r. sosrsssros roa-uo-roa vsm cuts a Detrdhmehqmto minds,

Application ma 11,1983. Serial is. scans more particularly to improvements frame and wheel suspensions.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a construction in which the road wheels are independently sprung and in. which the support for the steerable road the vehicle frame, so that the entire steerin may be supported on the frame and subjected to displacement as the result of relative movement theroad wheels and is driven on an uneven feature of the invention knuckle or the the vehicle frame movement with respect to the usual swinging movement in a in the vehicle and therefore partakes of no the frame other than horisontal plane for steering purposes.

knuckle and the for the wheel assem A more specific object of the invention is It is a further obiect of the-invention to provide in a construction of this character yielding means acting between the vehicle frame and the steerable road wheel assembly, or in the case of the steerable road wheels, between the steering steerable road wheel assembly,

for resisting vertical movement of the latter, this yielding meansbeing preferably of the leaf spring type and comprising the principal or sole support the provision in connection with the steerable road wheels of a steering knuckle carried by the vehicle frame and having a longitudinally extending arm, and a longitudinally spring disposed adjacent arm and carried by the latter, this leaf spring serving to support the. road wheel. This construction affords adequate support for the vehicle and is at the same time extremely compact as measured ina direction transversely of the vehicle. It is afeature of the invention that a shock absorbing device for sting sudden relative movement of the vehicle wheels and frame may be provided, the devices associated with the front wheels of the vehicle being carried on thesteering knuckle;

will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which v Figure 1 is a plan view of a motor vehicle chassis illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevationwofa motor vehicle,

certainofthepartsbeingshowninsection;

wheels is carried by I in a vertical sense of the frame when the-vehicle road bed. Thus-itisaj that the usual steering equivalent thereof is carried on substantially struction being contemplated as fall vcomprising extending leaf; to and laterally of-the knuckle and being secured displacement therein 4 v caster eiiect. Furthermore. Further objects and features of the invention FlguresisasectiononthelineHofl'isurel;

Figureiisasectidnonthelinel-lofFigurel;

1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustratins One form of shockabsorbing device which may be used to retard sudden relative movement of the road wheels and vehicle frame. l while the embodiment of the in the drawings is described herein in detail, it will be understood that specific language is used for the purpose of convenience and to facilitate an understanding of the invention and-that 15 no limitation of the scope of the invention. is thereby intended. such alterations of the conwithin the language of the claims appended hereto.

Referring now. to the drawings. it will be ohso served that the vehicle frame is illustrated as the conventional side frame members it and the cross frame members II, the precise construction of this frame forming nopart of the present invention.

Secured rigidly to each side frame member adjacent its forward end is a bracket II, these brackets extending laterally of the frame and constituting supports on which the steerin invention shown knuckles may be mounted'for swinging move- 30 portion and through the again t longitudinal in any convenient manner. The pivotal support for the knuckle is shown 4 in a simple manner since the precise construction thereof is not an important feature of the invention. lior instance, while the axis of the king pin is illustrated as substantially vertical. it will be understood that in practice be inclined to. the vertical to afford the usual although the term steering knuckle" is used for convenience. this term is intended to cover any device or member,

through this forked supported for movement in a horisontal or nearly, horizontal plane :and wheel, so that'the vehicle movement of the knuckle. j

' The steering knuckle II is provided with a forwardly directed substantially longitudinally ex- FIgureSis asectiononthe-IineI-Jof Figure 5 adaptedtore-lild 'eeive-the knuckle and the king this axis would 5 f tending arm 20, the free end 2| of this arm serving as a support for one or more rearwardly extending leaf springs 22. Thus by reference to Figure 5 of the drawings, it will'be seen that three such springs are shown, the intermediate spring being received within a slot 24 f ormed in the steering knuckle arm and the upper and lower springs being disposed in engagement with the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the steering knuckle arm. A bolt 25 may extend through the arm and through the leaf springs to clamp the latter in position on the arm. Preferably this bolt also'functions as a support for a bushing 21 which receives one end of the usual cross connecting rod 28, the latter extending transversely of the vehicle and serving to connect the two steering knuckles for simultaneous swinging movement in a substantially horizontal plane for steering purpose 1, a spacing member 29 being interposed between the bushing 21 and the upper leafspring 22.

At their rearward ends and at a point substantially opposite the kingpin H, the leaf springs are received in a wheel assembly supporting member 32, connection between these leaf springs and the supporting member being eilected in a manner similar to that described above. Thus the member 32 may be slotted as indicated at 33 to receive the intermediate leaf spring, the upper and lower leaf springs engaging the upper and lower surfaces respectively of the member 32. A bolt 34 passing through the leaf springs and the member 32 serves to clamp these parts rigidly together.

Formed integrally with or carried rigidly-by the member 32 is a plate 35 which may serve as a support for the usual brake backing plate (not shown), the .member 32 also carrying the wheel spindle 36 on which the steerable road wheel 31 is journalled in the conventional manner.

i It will be observed from the construction thus far described. that the structure on oppomte sides of the vehicle for supporting the steerable road wheels is identical, the steering knuckles swinging in a substantially horizontal plane and the leaf springs flexing in a, substantially vertical plane when an obstruction is encountered by the road wheels to afford the usual relative movement between the road wheels and the vehicle frame. The steering knuckle at the left hand side of the vehicle is provided with a steering arm 39 having an articulated connection at 40 with the usual drag link 4|, this steering arm being rigidly secured to or formed integrally with the underside of the steering knuckle and extending inwardly therefrom.

Adjacent its rear end the drag-link isconnected with the steering arm 42 which is in turn secured to a shaft 43 extending into the usual steering gear casing 44, located at the lower end of the steering column 45, the gearing within the casing being operable from the usual steering hand wheel (not shown) to eflect steering movement of the two knuckles and the associated road wheels. Thus the arrangement is such that the more conventional structures, such as the usual rigid axle construction, in which portions of the steering apparatus partake of rising and falling,

' movement with the road wheel, such wheel move- 4'! to a rod 50. This sorber.

'of this shock to interfere with proper.

ment of the road wheels and the vehicle frame may be resisted, a conventional shock absorber is employed, the casing 49 of this shock absorber being preferably mounted on the forwardly extending arm 20 of the knuckle l5, for instance by bolting the casing to the upper side of the arm.

A spindle 48 extending through the casing wall carries an arm 46 which is rigidly secured to the spindle and which is pivotally connected as at rod is secured to and is movable with the road wheel assembly. For instance a bracket 5| may be provided with a portion interposed between the head of the bolt 34 and 'the upper leaf spring 22, the rod 50 being se cured to the outer-end of the bracket Si by nuts 53 threaded on the rod. V

It will be appreciated that when the road'wheel moves vertically with respect to the frame and the knuckle, the spindle 48 which'extends into the shock absorber casing 48 will be rocked, and this rocking movement will be resisted in the usual manner by the elements of the shock ab- Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings in which one form of shock absorber is shown, it will be seen that the spindle 48 is provided with an arm 14, rigidly secured to the spindle and depending within the main chamber I5 of the shock absorber. The lower end of the arm 14 engages a recess IS in a double piston 18, the latter working in cylinders 18 and of the absorber casing, these cylinders being preferably-closed by elements 83 and 84 which are threaded into the respective ends of the casing.

The cylinders 18 and 801 are placed in com munication by a passage 86, and it will be observed that on reciprocation of the double piston 18. fluid containedwithin thecylindersls and will be caused to flowback and forth through the communicating passage 88. Suchflow is 88 formed at opposite ends resisted by suitably restricting the,passage, for

instance a regulating device consisting of a screw threaded element arranged to block the passage to a greater or less extent may be employed.

The shock absorber casing including the chamber 15. is supplied with oil or similar fluid, a filler opening and plug 88 being provided for this purpose.

The fluid within the chamber 15 acts as. a

source of supply for the communicating system including the cylinders 18 and 80 and the passage '86. a one-way valve 89 communicating with the cylinder 88 and the cylinder 15 being provided to permitflow of fluid from the chamber into the cylinder only, so that the supply of oil in the cylinders is automatically replenished from time to time.

It is obvious that the specific construction absorber forms no part of the present invention and that any conventional'type of shock absorber may be readily applied to the construction shown in the drawings for the purpose of resisting sudden relative movement of the road wheel assembly and the steering knuckle and vehicle frame.

The various advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. In addition to those tioned, it will be observed that the total unsprung weight is unusually low, with the result that the riding qualities of the vehicle are improved and the life of the vehicle tires is prolonged.

Furthermore, by reason of the manner in which the roadwheel is supported, there is no canting which have been men- 5 may be retained at one angle is not altered. This reduces the tendency of the vehicle to turn of wheel an obstruction is encountered side of the vehicle and thus the caster to one side or the other when passing over an uneven road bed.

Referring now to the construction at the rear of the vehicle, it will be observed that the details are quite similar to those employed in connection with the steerable road wheels. the steering knuckle being replaced by a supporting member II which is bolted to the side frame of the vehicle, the member 55 being constructed to receive the leaf springs 22. Thus the intermediate leaf spring may extend within a slot or recess in the supporting member GI and all three leaf springs in position by means of bolts Bl passing through the member 55 and through the leaf springs. Similarly the member 58 which supports the wheel assembly may be 'slotted to receive the intermediate leaf spring and all three leaf" springs may be secured in position by means of a bolt- 58 passing there'through, the bracket 5|, rod 50, and arm 46 being provided to connect the wheel assembly with the operating spindle 48 of the shock absorber.

The member 58 is provided with a brake backing plate supporting member 82 and a wheel spindle is, these elements being centrally apertured to receive a driving ,outer end 5 extending beyond the shaft 64 having-its spindle for attachment to the vehicle wheel which is journalled on the spindle 68 in the usual manner. The shaft 64 may be connected by. conventional universal joints 66 and 61 and a shaft 68 .to gearing within the differential housing 88, the latter being preferably carried by the frame. The propeller shaft ll extends forwardly from the dif-' ferential housing and is driven in the usual manner from the vehicle motor.

The shock absorbers for the rear vehicle wheels indicated at I! are supported on and rigidly secured to the respective side frame members and thus serve to resist sudden relative movement in a substantially vertical plane of the rear wheels and .the frame.

It will be appreciated that the spring suspension system disclosed herein is located further from the center line of the car and further forward than in conventional designs. Accordingly, the mass of the suspension oifers a greater ruistance to jolts and vibration ordinarily transmitted through the springs. Furthermore,

' side sway on rounding a curve is substantially eliminated owing to the fact that the springs act at points located adjacent the road wheels, this side my in conventional constructions being largely the result of the location of the springs much nearer the center line of the vehicle- While the construction of the leaf springs may be varied to a considerable extent, itis preferred that an arrangement involving the spacing of the leaves as illustrated in the drawings be employed sincethisconstructionofiersmuchgreaterresiatance to torsional stresses than does theconventional leaf spring assembly, a'feature of considerable im since the road wheel is supportedlaterallyofthesprings. Itlsalsopreferable toeo roportion the springs thatthe reaistancetoilexureateachendthereofisgreaterthanatintermcdiate pointstocompensate ior bending moments at the ends of the The desired renLt may obviotuly-be accomplilhedbytheuseofspriwhavlnggreater widthorthickneesadiacenteachend thesize of the. points being deterinvention,

for substantially vertical movement in response to irregular road conditions with respect to said frame, said means consisting of a steering knuckle and longitudinally extending leaf spring means connected between said knuckle and said wheel for steering thelatter and for resisting vertical movement thereof, and manually operable steering apparatus supported solely by and movable with said frame and operatively connected with said means for effecting steering movement of said wheel.

2. In a motor vehicle, vehicle frame, of a road wheel assembly, means carried-by said frame for supporting saidroad wheel assembly on said frame for vertical movement with respect thereto, said means comprising a plurality; of leaf springs extending generally longitudinally of the vehicle and lying in superposed and contiguous but spaced relation, and a steering knuckle carried by said frame, said leaf springs being connected between and affording the sole connection between said knuckle and said road wheel assembly. 3

3. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicleframe, of a steering knuckle carried by said frame, a steerable road wheel, means for supporting said road wheel on said knuckle for substantially vertical movement only with respect thereto, said means including a leaf spring for resisting vertical movement of said wheel, said leaf spring acting between said knuckle and said wheel and lying in a vertical plane extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, and a shock absorber carried by said knuckle and con- 'nected with said wheel for resisting sudden vertithe combination with a' to be secured by wheel assembly on said frame for vertical movement with respect thereto independently of the remaining vehicle road wheels, said means com-' prising a leaf spring ex'tending'generally longitudinally of the vehicle, said leaf spring being secured at one end to said frame and being secured at the other end to said road wheel assembly, and a shock absorber carried .by said frame and connected with said wheel so as to act directly between the frame and said wheel assembly for resisting sudden vertical movement of the latter. 1 I

'5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame. of a steering knuckle carried by said frame, a steerable road wheel, means for supporting said road wheel on said knuckle for substantially vertical movement only with respect thereto, said means including a longitudinally extending leaf spring for resisting vertical move 'ment of said wheel, said knuckle having a longilateraliy of said leaf spring, and means connecting said spring with said road wheel and with the free end of said am.

.6. in a motor vehicle. the combination with tudinallyextendingarmdisposedadiacentand f a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle carried by said frame and provided with a forwardly extending arm, a plurality of leaf springs secured to the forward end of said arm and extending 5 rearwardly therefrom and flexing in a substantially vertical plane, and a road wheel assembly carried by the rearward end of said springs laterally of and adjacent said knuckle.

7. In amotor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle carried by said frame and provided with 'a'forwardly extending arm-,- a plurality of leaf springs secured to the forward end of said arm and extending rear-- wardly therefrom and flexing in a substantially 16 vertical plane, a road wheel assembly carried by the rearward end of said springs laterally of and adjacent said knuckle, and a shock absorber carried by said knuckle -'and' connected with said wheel assembly to resist sudden flexure of said 20 springs.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle pivotally carried by said frame, a steerable road wheel, and means for supporting said road wheel on said 26 knuckle for substantially vertical movement only with respect thereto, said means including a leaf spring for resisting'vertical movement of said wheel, said leaf spring being connected to said knuckle and to said wheel and lying in a vertical "#0 plane extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, the axis of said road wheel being dis- Patent No. 2,o97,b,l+5.

of said wheel.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

JOHN. M. CHRISTMAN.

posed in substantial transverse alignment with the pivot of said steering knuckle. 9. In a motor vehicle, the combinationi yvith a vehicle frame, of a road wheel assembly, If carried by said frame for supporting said wheel assembly on said frame for vertical in ment with respect thereto, said means comprising a plurality of parallel spring leaves lying in superposed and contiguous but spaced relation,

and a. steering knuckle carried by said frame, said 10 spring leaves being rigidly connected with both said knuckle and said wheel assembly and affording the sole connection between said knuckle and said road wheel assembly. 3

10. In a motor .vehicle, the combination with 5 a vehicle frame, of a steerable ro'ad wheel, means supporting and guiding said road wheel on said frame for substantially horizontal steering movement and for substantially vertical movement in response toirregular road conditions with respect ,20

to said frame, said means including a longitudinally extending leaf spring means supported for steering movement with said wheel for resisting vertical movement of the wheel and guiding the wheel in such movement, and manually operable steering apparatus supportedsolely by and movable with said frame and operatively connected with said means for eflectingsteering movement November 2, 1957.

It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 3, second column, lines 5 and L strike out the words "and secured rigidly t'o'said road wheel assembly" and that the said this correction therein that .the same in the Patent Office.

Letters Patent should be read with may conform to there cord of the case (Seal) -Henry Van Arsdale, I Acting Commissioner of Patents.

JOHN M. CHRISTMAN. 30

a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle carried by said frame and provided with a forwardly extending arm, a plurality of leaf springs secured to the forward end of said arm and extending 5 rearwardly therefrom and flexing in a substantially vertical plane, and a road wheel assembly carried by the rearward end of said springs laterally of and adjacent said knuckle.

7. In amotor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle carried by said frame and provided with 'a'forwardly extending arm-,- a plurality of leaf springs secured to the forward end of said arm and extending rear-- wardly therefrom and flexing in a substantially 16 vertical plane, a road wheel assembly carried by the rearward end of said springs laterally of and adjacent said knuckle, and a shock absorber carried by said knuckle -'and' connected with said wheel assembly to resist sudden flexure of said 20 springs.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a steering knuckle pivotally carried by said frame, a steerable road wheel, and means for supporting said road wheel on said 26 knuckle for substantially vertical movement only with respect thereto, said means including a leaf spring for resisting'vertical movement of said wheel, said leaf spring being connected to said knuckle and to said wheel and lying in a vertical "#0 plane extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, the axis of said road wheel being dis- Patent No. 2,o97,b,l+5.

of said wheel.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

JOHN. M. CHRISTMAN.

posed in substantial transverse alignment with the pivot of said steering knuckle. 9. In a motor vehicle, the combinationi yvith a vehicle frame, of a road wheel assembly, If carried by said frame for supporting said wheel assembly on said frame for vertical in ment with respect thereto, said means comprising a plurality of parallel spring leaves lying in superposed and contiguous but spaced relation,

and a. steering knuckle carried by said frame, said 10 spring leaves being rigidly connected with both said knuckle and said wheel assembly and affording the sole connection between said knuckle and said road wheel assembly. 3

10. In a motor .vehicle, the combination with 5 a vehicle frame, of a steerable ro'ad wheel, means supporting and guiding said road wheel on said frame for substantially horizontal steering movement and for substantially vertical movement in response toirregular road conditions with respect ,20

to said frame, said means including a longitudinally extending leaf spring means supported for steering movement with said wheel for resisting vertical movement of the wheel and guiding the wheel in such movement, and manually operable steering apparatus supportedsolely by and movable with said frame and operatively connected with said means for eflectingsteering movement November 2, 1957.

It is hereby certifiedthat error appears in printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Page 3, second column, lines 5 and L strike out the words "and secured rigidly t'o'said road wheel assembly" and that the said this correction therein that .the same in the Patent Office.

Letters Patent should be read with may conform to there cord of the case (Seal) -Henry Van Arsdale, I Acting Commissioner of Patents.

JOHN M. CHRISTMAN. 30 

